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Jan 17,. 1933, DAGGETT 1,894,581

ALARM DEVICE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed March 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 17, 1933. E. H. DAGGETT I 1,894,531

ALARM DEVICE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed March 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE EDWARD H. DAGGETT, F GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS HrBROWN, OF GHATHAM, NEW JERSEY ALARM nnvron AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR 7 Application filed March 26, 1929, Serial No. 349,917. Renewed December 6, 1930.

other advantages over prior devices for the same general purpose.

The apparatus is intended primarily for substitution for the water motor operated 19 gongs now in general use in connection with automaticsprinkler systems. Such gong devices comprise a water pipe leading to the motor chamber of the gong and to which water under pressure is admitted by an automatic control valve when one or more of the sprinkler heads open. The same water pipes, although possibly'of difierent capacities, can be used to operate the apparatus of the present invention instead of operating a motor gong. a

In addition to the motor gong, it is customary to have the automatic control valve mechanism control one or more switches or contacts for an electric alarm mechanism comprising gongs distributed around'sprin- I klered buildings. This invention contemplates the idea of using the apparatus also to replace all or a part of such an electric alarm mechanism, as the newapparat-us is such that a number of its alarm sounding units may be widely distributed and connected by. air lines to a central air chamber from which, air movement 1s started when there IS occasion for an alarm, or each unit may have its own air driving unit with a separate water pipe connection to a common water supply turned on by operation of 'the' automatic control valve.

While, as stated above, the invention is intendedprimarily for use in connection with automatic sprinkler systems, the idea is capable of use in connection with a hand control such as a valve in a water line. It may, therefore, be used for signalling or to supplement an automatic alarm by manual operation of a control valve, and useful in whole, or in part, in the arts generally;

In addition to the other advantages which have been specifically and incidentally mentioned, the new apparatushas nothing likely less, very eflicient and possessed of many of other types of alarm devices which depend l on a water motor drive.

1th the foregoing and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction and association of parts, the features of novelty being pointed out in the appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the'drawings which accompany and formpart of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross section through an air chamber and devices for inducing an air current through the chamber to operate a gong mechanism shown in end elevation;

Fig. 2 is front elevation, partly sectional, of the, gong and its operating mechanism;

7. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of thegong and the operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through another form of air chamber and devices for inducing an air current through the chamber to operate a gong mechanism or a horn or trumpet. V I

Fig. 5 shows the motor parts of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of outlet orifice.

Stated in general terms, the apparatusin the drawingsis designed to operate a siren, horn, trumpet, gong or other signalling system or mechanism, by an air current induced by a'flow of water or other suitable fluid which is turned on by a hand valve or'by the automatic control valve of an automatic sprinkler system. In fact, the apparatus illustrated is capable of effecting the operation of a pluralityof sound or other signalling mechanisms. and instrumentalities, when occasion arises, as determined by the control agencies mentioned, and as described more particularly below.

To change the liquid flow set up by the above mentioned agencies to a gas flow the invention includes a device which receives the liquid and utilizes the energy of its momentum to induce a gas flow of considerable velocity. The gas flow so obtained may be piped to one or more sound alarm devices located in various suitable parts of the building protected, where they can best attract attention in answer to an alarm.

The device for changing the liquid flow to a gaseous one is shown and described as comprising an ejector mechanism operating on the principle of a Venturi tube, which has a water connection fed by the fire control valves of the sprinkler system, but this particular device is only illustrative and obviously other well known agencies for deriving a "as flow from a water flow can be employed instead. However derived, the gas flow is then utilized to sound the alarms referred to above either by causing a suction through them, or by the direct application of air pressure distributed through a line of pneumatic tubing. Once the occasion for a neral alarm has been definitely instituted y the water elements of the system it can be raised and propagated far more certainly and economically by gas flow than could be done by the considerable masses involved in an all water flow system; furthermore in certain locations water appliances could not be used if exposed to the risk of freezing.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the pipe 1, Fig. 1, indicates a source of water flow derived from the fire control valves of a sprinkler'system. This flow passes through the tubes 2, 5 of the Venturi ejector in which it impinges at high velocity against the ball 6 resting on the grating 7 of the chamber 8. The effect of this impact on the ball is to throw the water stream against the walls of chamber 8, thus sealing the outflow by a water seal which prevents any air leaking into the vacuum zone of the tube which is provided with one or more pipe connections 3' to transmit the air flow to the several gong motors actuated thereby. Instead of the ball expedient, a seal may be obtained by causing the water stream to rotate due to rifling of the inner walls of the chamber 8, or both.

these provisions may be used to the end that the way for a water flow is comparatively unobstructed, but no air can get in.

The Venturi tube air exhaustion device may be located in the. immediate vicinity of the fire control valves of the sprinkler system, preferably in a plac where it can be given occasional tests by the use of hand controlled water'pipes. From this location a number of pneumatic lines are run to gong alarms each one of which provided with an air driven motor constructed as follows.

Referring to Figs. 2 an d 11 is a cylinder on which a post 20 s mounted to adiustably support a spring wire 23, clamped to the post 20 by set screw 24. The cylinder has a pipe connection with the Venturi tube inlet 3. When water is running through the tube,

inlet 3 will accordingly set up a vacuum in cylinder 11. This vacuum acts on a piston 10 to pull it into the cylinder. The piston projects beyond the cylinder 11 to form a valve seat 21, Fig. 5. A sleeve extension of piston 10 slides freely in a bearing 12, the sleeve and piston proper being connected to each other by a globular fitting into which projects the wire spring 23, the wall of the fitting being suitably slotted to permit the spring to be adjustable in post 20, as described above. The spring 23 passes through a plunger "alve 22 freely slidable in the piston sleeve 10 which latter is provided with an air vent 29, to allow the valve plunger to close against the ring head 25 on the piston sleeve, this ring head serving to vibrate a bell hammer 15.

it will be understood from the above description that the first effect of putting a vacuum on the cylinder 11 will be to pull the piston 10 into the cylinder. During this initial movement of the piston the valve 22 remains seated to keep the piston 10 air tight, first because the wire spring 23 engages the plunger valve by an elongated opening and, secondly because of the resilience of the spring. After a range of movement fixed by these two factors the piston 10 is arrested because spring 23, being fixed, engages the wall of the plunger valve slot and lifts, or forces the valve 22 from its seat 21, this immediately ends the vacuum in the cylinder 11 and the spring 19 operates to return the piston 10 to the other end of its stroke,and so on indefinitely, each stroke causing the bell arm to sound the gong 17.

Figs. 2 and 5 show the relative arrangement of knocker, or hell arm, and the spring 19 when the bell hammer acts on the outside of the gong. If it is required to act on the inside of the gong, the relative arrangement of these parts is as shown in Fig. 3, all other parts remaining the same. The Fig. 3 arrangement is perhaps the most compact and best protected from mechanical injury, but either form of the invention exhibits a very light, simple operative mechanism, well designed to be run by a small volume of air and little liable to get out of order. Fig. 4 shows a still simpler alarm in which a vibratory reed is set in motion by the exhaust from the Venturi tube. Any of these forms of the invention may, of course, be assembled in a unitary structure with the Venturi tube used to convert water flow to air flow, or other equivalent device usedfor that purpose. In extensive plants, however, it may be desirable to give alarms at widely separated points, in which case the air motor and air current generator would necessarily be made up separately, and suitably connected by air lines.

It will be understood from the above that the basic idea of the invention is to provide agencies in the immediate vicinity of the fire sprinkler valve controls for utilizing a water flow to generate an air current flow, the air current is then applied to the actuation of alarms, distributed around the plant as desired, and furthermore that the giving of the alarms may be entirely automatic, because as soon as the controlvalves start the waterfiow the generation of air flow begins.

The generic invention disclosed in this application is described and claimed in my Patent 1,800,512, which was filed originally May 31,1928, renewed Dec. 19, 1929, granted April 14, 1931.

What is claimed is- 1. An alarm apparatus comprising a water pipe through which water is delivered to operate the alarm, a casing surrounding the delivery end of the pipe comprising an air inlet and an outlet, means adjacent the delivery end of the pipe whereby the water leaving the pipe will induce an air current through the casing, and a gong alarm connected for operation by the air current.

2. An apparatus comprising a water pipe through which water is delivered, a casing surrounding the pipe provided with an air inlet and an outlet, means at the exit end of the outlet whereby the water leaving the pipe will induce an airjcurrent through the casing,

and a mechanically operated alarm connected to the casing for operation by said induced current. l i

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a pipe communicating with asprinkler system and through which water is forced when the sprinkler system is functioning, a casing surrounding the pipe and provider with an air intake and an outlet, means in said outlet whereby water leaving the pipe will induce an air current through the intake and outlet, and an alarm connected for operation by the air current. l

4:. In an apparatus of the character described, a pipe communicating with a sprinkler system and through which water is force d when the sprinkler system is functioning, a casing surrounding the pipe and provided with an air intake and an outlet, means in said outlet whereby water flowing through the pipe will induce an air current through the intake and outlet, and alarm devices connected for operation by the air current.

5. An alarm apparatus comprising a water pipe through which water is delivered under pressure when an alarm is to be sounded, an air operated device for sounding the alarm, and means cooperating with the pipe and said device whereby the water flowing through the pipe will cause an operating flow of air in the alarm operatingdevice.

6. An alarm apparatus comprising a water pipe through which water is delivered under pressure when an alarm is to be sounded, a plurality of air operated devices for sounding the alarm, and means cooperating with the pipe and said devices whereby the water flowing through the pipe will cause an operating flow of air in the alarm operating devices.

7 In an apparatus of the character described, a water pipe, a casing surrounding the delivery end of the pipe, an air inlet and an outlet, a piston adapted to oscillate in said inlet and a valve for closing oflt' the said inlet to develop suction in said inlet to move said piston in one direction and means for open ing said valve to stop the'movement of the said piston.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a water pipe, a casing surrounding the delivery end of the pipe, an air inlet chamber provided with an outlet, a piston adapted to oscillate in said inlet chamber, and a valve for closing off the said outlet to develop suction in the said chamber to move the piston in one direction, means for opening the valve to stop the piston movement and means for moving it in the opposite direction.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a water pipe, a casing surrounding the delivery end of the pipe, an air inletchamber provided with an outlet, a piston adapted to oscillate in said inlet chamber and a valve for closing off the said outlet to develop suction in the said chamber to move the piston in one direction, means for opening the valve to stop the movement of the piston and means for moving the said piston in the opposite direction, in combination with work operating means connected to the said piston and operated thereby.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a source of suction, an air inlet chamber connected to said suction source, a piston adapted to oscillate in said inlet chamber, a valve for closing off the said air inlet to develop suction in said inlet chamber to move said piston in one direction, and means for opening said valve to stop the movementof the said piston.

11. A fire alarm apparatus comprising water connections adapted to be flooded by a sprinkler control valve on the outbreak of a fire, means in said water connections for convertingwater flow to air flow, and reciprocating motor means operatively connected to be actuated by said air flow, in combination with alarm signal means actuated by the said motor means.

Signed at Hoboken in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 20th day of March, A. D. 1929.

ED /VARD H. DAGGETT. 

